The MacGregor United U18 soccer team made it all the way to the Children's Hospital Tournament's gold-medal game in 2011, only to fall a goal short.

United ensured it didn't see a similar fate this time around, winning each of its games en route to taking the top spot in its division, capturing the 2012 title on June 10.

"It was nice to be back in the finals again, and it was nice to come away with the trophy and the medals this time," said head coach Corey May.

In the opener, MacGregor played Moosomin, opening up a 2-0 and holding on to win 2-1 when the opponents got a late marker.

"They piled some good pressure on us for the last little while, but we held them off," said May.

United then played Norwood, surviving first-half pressure by their Winnipeg counterparts to finish the first half scoreless. MacGregor scored early in the second half to help turn the tide and help notch a 2-0 win.

In their third game, MacGregor downed East St. Paul in a dominant fashion, though the score was only 2-0.

"We did dominate that game a little more," said May. "It wasn't quite as intense near the end. We had them down."

In the final, MacGregor again met up with Moosomin, winning another 2-1 contest. Each team scored on a first-half penalty kick to set up some United heroics to eke out the win.

For more, please see Thursday's edition of the Central Plains Herald-Leader.